Box making machine



Aug. 21, 1934. G. H. sNYDER Er AL BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet vl ATroRNEY.'

Aug- 21, 1934. G. H. sNYDr-:R ET AL BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 L EN@ 51m/DER ATTORN EY.'

G. H. sNYDr-:R ET AL 1,970,581

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed Maoh 29, 1953 e sheets-sheet 5 Aug. 21, 1934.

ATTORN EY.'

Aug 21, 1934- G. H. SNYDER ET AL 1,970,581

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1935 6 sheets-Sheet 4 ATTORNEY.'

Aug. 2l, 1934.

' G. H. SNYDER ET AL i BOX' MAKING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1935 ATTORNEY.'

Aug 21, 1934 G. H. SNYDER ET A1. 1,970,581

BOX MAKING MACHINE Filed March 29, 1953 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 l .ull

Patented Aug. 21, 1934 Y UNI-TED STATES- VPAf,1,rr:.',`1\1fr orties BOX MAKING MACHINE f George H. Snyder, Glenside, and Allen Snyder,

Chestnut Hill, APa.

Application March as ,icsaiseriarnm 663,256

17 claims. lows-58j and the process of making a box. l

In our application Ser. No. 645,138, filed December 1, 1932, we disclosed the simulation of aconventional wooden box, suchas a cigar box, made This invention relatesto box making machines of cardboard, formedand cut to provide the sharp` shoulders, smooth edges and thickened wallsv of the conventional wooden cigar box. The present 1 vinvention relates specically toa machine for -forming and trimming or cutting lthe box disclosed inthe above mentioned application.

' 4As it has been found expedient to provide a shell arid tray lformation of cardboard box, it has not ,Y only been found diicult to provide the ends of fthe bo'x higher than the sides thereof with a sharp corner upon the higher ends above Vthe sides, but

it'has been foundditlicultto provide independentsmooth surfaces; to provide a box trimming machine in which walls are cut transversely from the inside of the box outwardlyrto reduce the manual labor heretofore necessary in finishing boxes; to provide a machine which generally improves the art of box making; to provide a machine tovwhich box bodies having Walls of sub' stantially uniform height are fed and from which box bodies having sidewalls lower thanrthe'end Walls lare delivered; to form a cardboard box the' upper edges of which are cut surfaces; and many other objects and advantages as will ybecome more apparentes the description proceeds.

' In 'the accompanying drawings:

Fig. 1 represents a side elevation, partially'i parts broken away,`

' Fig. 2 represents an end elevation of'apair of i operating units of the machine,with parts broken section, of one operating unit of the machine, with away and with parts removed,

tion through the first or pressing stageof the machine, Y f Y .,Fig. 4 represents a fragmentaryvertical section through the second or side trimming stage of the machine, with parts broken away,

Fig. 5 represents a fragmentary side elevation ofA thethird or end trimming stage of the nia-- Fig. 6 represents anend elevation of the same;

Fig. 7 represents a fragmentary side elevation of thev end of the machine showing the conveyor and the ejecting device,

tion through the movable stop or gauge to locate the work in the second or side trimming stage,

.'Fig. 9 represents a fragmentary plan of the side trimming-knife operatively associated with a boxtobecut, ,c i Y Fig 10 represents a, fragmentary end elevationl of the sidetrimming knife and cooperating tarts,` i

Fig: lil represents a 'fragmentary elevation, partially in section, ofthe elevating mechanism for the boxes to carryy theml into operative association with'the trimming knives,

l Fig.'l2 represents a plan of the cam operatingthe `parts in the yfirst/or pressing stage,

jcFig. 13 represents a perspective View of the box asnishedby'thernachine of this invention, and

Fig; 14, representsa fragmentary plan of the end trimming parts :in `operative association relative to a box end wall; c

` Referen'cehas been' and Willbe made to stages or stationsjof which-there are in the preferred form'threabutwhich obviously is' susceptible to changeas desired." The three stages may be identifiedVas'fcomposedv of a pressing station or stage, ,in whichfth'e innerfand outer component parts of *thel composite box, known respectively as the Atray `and shell, are subjected to pressure to cause the'previously glued surfaces to adhere to form a lintarybox,v and whichmay be identi-'-` edV in Fig.. 1, as the iirst stage A; the second stage, B,'is 'thatinwhich the' side walls of the unitary box" are transversely 1 cut and trimmed; andthe third stage or station C, in which the endwalls are 'transversely out and trimmed.

Referencefto Fig; v13 'discloses a unitary box 10,` lpreferably comprised of an inner tray ll, and an outer shell 12. vThe'tray Yhas side walls 13 whichL preferably initially are substantially as high'asits end walls 14. 'Obviously the box 10 may comprise a-single box entity, formed as desiredfand without a reinforcingy nesting complement. However, it isprefer'red to provide a compositeV box. The' shellhas side walls 15 preferably in itallyashigh as its endwalls 16, and the unitary box'is' assembledA with the upper edges of the respective side'sand of the respective ends, FigfS represents a fragmentary vertical sec-` allmore'o'r less the same general plane parallel with the bottoir'r.4 It may be noted in the connection thatA as afmatte'r of fact it is practically impossible `to secure morethan general and approximate `registration of'the'upper edges of the adjacentindependent walls, which alone is inadequate to give `thesmooth planar upper surface necessary so that when covered it will simulate the smooth upper squared edge ofthe Wall of s y y 1,97%,58l

ell-wooded box; This is due among other factors Y to the variations 'in fiber distribution in the cardboard, andtothe variations in scoring and folding't'hat follow.' .-Fig. 8 represents a fragmentary verticalsecl Stamina? the shells and trays have been pasted and assembled in unpressed relation as unitary boxes 10 disposed upon the endless con# Veyor 17, where they are held against movement with the conveyor by the movable stop 18. The conveyor 17 runs over idler pulley 20, on the right hand battery of stages, carried on framework 21, over idler pulley 22 on the left hand bat-` tery of stages carried on framework 23, and over the driven pulley 24, driven by any suitable power source, such as by a motor 25, indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2. t Will be understood that a machine may comprise a single battery of stages,

or a multiplicity thereof, andV in the illustrative.l form there are two batteries, a left hand and a right hand, each iinally delivering to a'common point between the batteries. The conveyor travels perpendicularly to the direction of travel of a unitary box progressively through the successive stages and parallel to the direction of final ejection of the finished box.

, Except for being right and left hand machines the respective batteries of stages. are substantially identical, and parts of one are the same.

as parts for another except for directional disposition, so that but one machine need be described in detail.

Referring to Fig. 1, the first stage or station A, mounted upon the framework 21, is disposed 1aterally of conveyor 17, with the center of the stage in substantial vertical alignment withl an ejecting `plunger or kicker 26 carrying guard 184 and arranged for horizontal reciprocation by means of the bell crank lever 31, pivoted at 32, and actu-` ated by a suitable groove 29 in the cam 33. The lateral guide strips 19 of the conveyor 17 are interrupted in alignment with the kicker 26 so as to permit a unitary box to be pushed off of the conveyor to drop into stage A. A table. or oor 34 is provided in the middle of station A mounted on the vertically adjustable non-rotatable shaft 35. The latter has a cross pin 36 engaged by slots 37 in the end of lever 38, pivoted at 40, and connected pivotally to link 41 connected to lever 42 pivoted at 43, and actuated by a suitable lcam 39. A vertically adjustable internal former pressing anvil or block 45 is mounted on the shaft 46, slidable in the xed head 47, and connected through a suitable trainor link 48, lever 50, link 51, to arm 52 pivoted o-n axis shaft 43, in position to be actuated by suitable means such as a groove in the cam 44. The former or block 45 has slidable movement relative to stationary strippers 53, arranged to strip the box from the former in the event it sticks or adheres thereto after press,

gear 60, driven through a suitable pinionV gear 61. It will be seen that with proper timing when a unitary box 10 drops kupon the table 34, the former or block 45 drops down andventers` the unitary box, and thereafter the respective movable abutments orY Walls are simultaneously brought into squeezing or pressing engagement with the respective walls ofl the box relative to the fixed former within the box. Thereafter the movable Walls are retracted, the former or block 45 is elevated, possibly carryingj the box with-it to be stripped off by the strippersS, to drop upon, er to rise with the table `34 whichk ascends, supporting the box, until the lowersurface of the box is above the upper edges of the movable walls.

At this point the pressed and unified box is kicked laterally off the table 34, and into the second stage or station B, by means to be described. It is to benotedjthatvstage or station A may be omitted or may be present in another independent machine, without adverse effect upon the remainder l.of the machine.

Referring to Figs'. 1 and 7, there is disclosed Vv2a horizontal journalled shaft 62, carrying a head 63 to abut and eject the box. The shaft 62 is actuated in one 'direction at least by lever 64, pivoted' at 65, and pivotally engaged by longitudinally shiftable .link 66, actuated by a lever 67 pivoted at 68, and having an end 70 bearing upon and actuated by the outer edge of the cam 58, having peripheral indentations 59, preferably fourin'numb'er. It will be observed that each quarterrotation of the cam 71 marks the main-r tenanceof ejector plunger 62, 63 in retracted position during the pressing, followed by entry of lever end into a recess 59, permitting a spring .69fto pull shaft or link 66 to Work the ejectors to kick the pressed unitary box into the next or second stage B, wherein the side trimming is accomplished. ,n

In explanation ofthe operation of the side trimmer, stage or station B, it might be noted that theessential thing inthe trimming is the form the vertical surface 8 as a continuation` of the inner end surface 9, and, of course, there is also to be provided a horizontal transverse cut through the side wall to form a surface 7 which intersects the vertical cut surfaces 8 and which is parallel with the box bottom.

Referring to Figs. 4, 9, and 10 there is provided a horizontallyy reciprocatable cutter head 72, carrying the respective cutter blades and arranged for vertical adjustment or reciprocation with a guideto be described. Vertical cutters 73 and 74, the outer cutting edges of which are so spacedas to permit the cutter to vertically slidingly entera box 10(Fig. 9), so as to form the vertical cut surfaces 8, (Fig. 13) are rigidly secured kto the cutter head in fixed relation to` thehorizontal side wall cutters 75, the cutting. edge of which slants or tapers toward the center,

as shown at 76, ink Fig. 9, in order to facilitate thecutting. It is to be observed as a matter of interest. and importance, that the lateral horizontal extent of the vertical cutters or trimmers, 7-3 and74, is slightly less than the internal width ofthe unitary box 10, so that the disposition of the cutter Within the box is facilitated, as is the seriatum cutting of one side wall, then the other, by appropriate horizontalmovements of the cutter head. In Fig. 9 it will be notedthat the aperture.77 is provided in cutter head 72, topermit the disposition of a kick stripper 78 (shown in dotted lines in'Fig. 1, stage B, and in full'lines'and extended position .in Fig 4) disposedon vertical shaft'80, extending through the aperture 77. The kick stripper is arranged to descend and abut the bottom of the unitary composite box from the cutters to remove same vertically `downwardly toward a complementary support to be described, from which latter thev box is laterally ejected, a's also to be described.

nomas-is;

l- A stationary z vertical. "guides piece` 81`- is :pro` videdffmounted upon the top 'of..table portion. 55,

and fstraddlingv the .box/supports, and guides `to be described. 1 Across head; 32 ,isi vertically slid-- able inthe, guide 8l, `and kcarries at itsqlower end-the rigid cutter head guide 83, in; which the cutter 4head 72 is horizontally slidable. The

cross. vhead carrying the cutter-head guide -isg vertically: reciprocableas a unit through the actuation ofa linkf84, pivoted at one .end of the lever 85,in turn pivotally` connectedto the *re-v silient-link 86, having springland turnbuckle 88 arranged forlength variation and adjustment, ,f

andthe resilient link ispivotally connected -to the4 lever 90,- pivoted-at 91, and having a ,bossi or. roller stud 92, riding in a suitable grooveV (not shown) oi a peana 93. -It;is.- pointed-out that-asian in'cidentpf: proper rotation of cam` 93,'V the stud 92 will be raised-and the cross head 82, and cutter head guide 83will be lowered relative Vto the `lixed guide '81, and will be held in lowered position while 'the .cutter head .is iinparted 'threel horizontal' reciprocationsrelative to.

the cutter head guide.. The latter Vmoverrientis securedby'meanspf av link94, leverV 95 having aroller 96 riding in any appropriate groove (not Shown) in cam 93, and comprises a reciprocation from mid position to cut-one side, anopposite f reciprocation to cut the other side, and athird reciprocation to return `tornid'position.

Inexactlyv timed and, properly synchronized relationto the foregoing-movement of the reciprocating parts, `there is movement ,of the ver-V Y tical-ly adjustable supporting, plate 97 mounted on. vertically guided shait- 98, having cross pin 100 engaged by slots 101 in the end of -lever.-l02,

actuated by link 103 pivoted to the lever 90, andl obviouslymoved upwardly, as cross head 82 moves downwardly: t As shown particularly in vligf, a gauge or lateral removable stop 104 is provided sl-iolable horizontally in a guide 105,. mounted on a iixed.

abutment 106, ofthejpair-of spaced abutments 106, 107. The llongitudinally slidable stop is piv-l 'Lioted tobell crank .lever 108,in turn connected,v througl'i link 110, to lever 111, having a*v roller 1,1 21riding .-upon theA peripheral Acam surface 113 of the cam 114.

Referring to Figs. 4, 9 and 10, the` spaced abutiments 106 and 107i form4 the anvil portions Vof the'trimming-cutters. They maybe rigidly ybut detachably mountedon table =55-irrv such manner as to be capable. of relativeadjustment to accord withY varying sizes of boxes, as thecutters themselves are so adjustable. -It .will beunderstood that the respective cutter blades73, :74 and 75 are detachablymounted; on a cutter block which is iremovablymountedzon the cutter head72. It

will be understood Ythat the block Vandlrblades will be of ai-sizeV appropriate Vfor a given size ,of.box,v, and that they:A will be variedfinsize as thejboxg size is to be` varied.; It Wilhbe-notedgthat the; upper inner edges of the respective abutmentslll'lfand` 108 are i, preferably.laterally. spaced a; ,s1ig htdistance.v greater .than the 4lateral' width of Vthe cutter assembly, so as to permit-free. in-y sertion of .the box to `be treated, with thecutter4 preferably slightly laterally movable within the box. The parallel edgesl o the abutments'comev` prisehardened cutting or shearing, edges with which the ,respectivev movable cutters have coop-` erating shearinglactions in `which the statinnar-y edges fback up orreinforce the wall of v,the box duringncutting. AThe,hardeneduedge strips are .s designatedfas 1.16. Adjustable guide or gauge cornersblock's 117 are arranged tooverhang 'the cutting edgestrips -116 to deiine with the stationary cutting edges corner gauges to receive and reinforce ,the corners of the box during cutting. Thecorner blocks 117 are clamped-in iixed position by clamps 118. The vertically upstandingportionsofathe cornervblocks or gauges 117 form a reinforcement for the box surface adjacentv tothe trimming or cutting area.

Itfbeing desired to move the box from the second stage or station B into the third stagev or station C, anejector-or kicker 120 is provided,

mounted on a lever A121, pivoted tothe longitudi# which the end trimmer or cutter head 126 is ar-V ranged to reciprocate. The end cutter head is connected by'link 127 to bell crank lever 128, pivoted at'130.. The other end of the bell crank lever 128 is pivotally connected to the substantial.- ly vertical shaft 131, pivoted to the lever 132 carrying lroller 133 working in a groove 134 in.

the cam 135. y v

, ,Inthe'middle vofthe third stage in alignment with the opening between the vertical abutments 12,4 there is `provided a movable support or table l36'mo'vable relative to the table 122 and mounted upon the rack, 137, in mesh with pinion gear` 138l mounted on shaft 140 (Fig. 11). Pinion 141 rigid with shaft 140 is in mesh with an actuating A:

rack,142 and held in mesh by an idler roller 139, the lower end of rack 140 being pivotally connected to lever 143, pivoted to the frameworkv at 144 and having a roller 145 working in a suitable groove in cam 135. It will be clear that rotation' ofA cam 135 subjects rack shaft 142 to, vertical .reciprocations ywhich are transmitted through the gearing and ampliiied in the motion of verticallyrmovable table 136.

I The vertical abutments 124 and 123 carry the transverse anvil portions 146 and 147 comprising hardened backing up edges. `On each anvil or complementary shearing portion 146 and 147 there arep'rovided lateral corner guide blocks 150 `arranged to engage the lateral side edges of theunitary box and Vbeing provided with the depending converging tapered `or flared guides 151, arranged to maintain proper alignment of the box as it is guidedupwardly just previous to the trimming operation. The end cutter head V126 carries the transverse' e knife blades 152, arranged to enter between the blocks 150 to engage shearingly the stationary edges 146. f Fixed but adjustable lateral guides 153 are provided on one sidefof the'lopening of station C, while a movable e stop or'guide 154 isv provided arranged for temporary removable relation with the iixed guides, t'o holdrthe box against yundesired movement out vof the third stages. vThe movable `guard or barrier. 154vis mounted upon the lever 155 connected through link 156 with a lever 157 pivoted tothe irameworkof the machine at 158 and having a roller 160 riding upon a cam 161, the axis of which 162 isconcentric with the axis of ca 135.

`ejector 163 lmounted on the horizontally slidable shaft 164 is vpivotally connected to lever 165 pivoted to the framework at 166 and connected through link 167 with a bell-crank lever 168, pvoted at 170 and having its .toe v169 tripped by the hump 171 on thek periphery of cam 135. AIt will be understood that the horizontal ejection action of the plunger 163 in response to actuation by the cam is immediately followed by retraction of .thevejector owing-to the tension exerted by Spring 172 v f l Y In considering a cycle of operations of the machine-it will be understood Athat the several cams of the device bear mutually synchronized relations-and lthatthe ywork preferably proceeds through both batteries simultaneously in order to secure themost efficient production.

y Assuming that-other machines have` produced the shells and trays of the unitary box 10, andV that they have been nested properly with adhesive between component units, but yhave not yet been pressed, there willbe a series of such unpressed, assembled boxes disposed upon the right hand end of belt 17 (Fig. 2) moved to abutment against stop 18. The presence of stop 18 causes belt 17 to slide under the boxes.

The stop 18 is adjustably mounted upon an arm of the compound bell-crank lever 173, pivoted at 174, the lower end of which is connected through `link 175 withA bell-crank lever'176 pivoted atv 177 and -having a roller 178 riding the outer periphery of cam-33. A 'link 180 extends from the top of the bell-crank lever 174 to the bell-crank 181v pivotedat 189, the free arm of which adjustably carries vthe stop 182.` It will be observed that through the linkage just described stops 18 and 182 will be raised and lowered in synchronism, as roller 178 on the bell-crank lever 176 is struck by the enlargement or hump 183 on the outer 'periphery of cam 33. The ejector 26,I carrying the lateral aligning guard 184 normally 'stands out of the path of boxes moving with belt 17 so that elevation of both stops 18 and 1,82 for a brief intervalpermits two boxes to pass under stop 18 but to abut and be stopped by stop 182 in its timed descent. With ya box abutting stop 182'in alignment with ejector 26, it will be understood that rotation of cam 33 actuates bell-crank 31, and withdraws retracting pressure'from bell-crank 27. rlhis is followed by an ejecting. movement of plunger 26 in response to the tensionurge of spring 185, which causes plunger 26, with its guard 184, to eject the box nearest stop 182 and to` move it into stage or station A as has been previously noted@ As this ejection is immediately followed by recession of plunger 26 as roller 70 is moved out of thefdepression 59 in cam 58, the subsequent raising of both stops 18 and 182 permits the second of the pair of boxes to pass under stop 182 to travel toward the second or left half of the machine. selectively. automatically feeds alternating unitary boxes to the right and left hand machines.

The dropping of the unpressed unitary box into l stage or station A causes `the box tobe centered YAsf'the box settles to rest upon the table the former, follower or anvil block 45 is started downwardly to ,enter within the openmouth of the box rand this is followed `by `theyinward pressing movement of the respective synchronized and c o- -ordinated movable abutments 54, as an incident Thus in the feed the devicek of the rotation of cam 58. As soon as the maximum pressure has been attained by the abutments squeezing the respective unitary. box walls` against the block 45, the abutments begin to retract as the cam continues its rotation.. Follow-- ing release of the inward pressure of the abutments, the floor 34 of the first stage begins to rise upwardly, following up the form or block 45 as it is vertically retracted. Continued rotation of theV cam 58, bringing the movable abutments to their extreme retracted position causes roller of lever 67 to fall into. a peripheral recess 59 in cam- 58, thus permitting shaft or link 66 to move longi tudinally toward the conveyor end of the machine, through the influence of a suitable spring 69. Such spring controlled movement of link 66 results in simultaneous horizontal reciprocation of both ejector plungers 63 and 120, operative to` the first and second stages. Movement of the ejector plunger 63 brings it into kicking engagement with the side of the pressed box, which is mounted on the table 34 free of the former block 45, either because the block has moved vertically out of the box as is the usual practice, or else'b`e-" cause the box has been stripped from the block 45 100 y by the strippers 53 as the block rises to drop upon the ascending floor 34. The pressed box is now kicked by vplunger 63 into the second stage or station B.

At the time of this ejection from station A and the entry of the pressed box into station B, the movable stop 104 has been extended to form a barrier across the rear opening of the second stage to prevent the box from being kicked beyond station B. This inward movement of the stop 104 has been caused in timed relation by the rotation of cam 114 permitting roller 112 to drop sharply, and through the links and levers disclosed in Fig.` 8, to interpose the movable stop in the pathv of movement of the box. The pressed box is now disposed in the second stage or station B andv received upon the vertically movablerplungerl 97, still with the open end up. 'Ihe upward movement of plunger 97 carrying the box is accompanied simultaneously by the downward movement of the cutter-head,v cross-head, and guide 82 and83, respectively, to permit the cutter assembly on the cutter head to enter within the box, It will be understood that although the linkage controlling the vertical adjustments of the cross head are' such as to permit the cutter head to have exact horizontal registrationwith the stationary complementary parts, yet as a safety measure it is preferred to provide the cutter head guide 83` with depending flanges 89 arranged to abut top surfaces of adjustable stud bolts 199 disposed in the respective stationary abutments 106 and 107.

Y It willvbe understood that Asuitable vertical guides 149 are provided to insure that the box is properly guided in its movement upwardly' solas to be properly disposed `relative to the cornerblocks 117. As soon as proper Vertical registra-- tion of the cutter device within the box, and relative to the stationary complementary shearing elements has been secured with the slidable cutter'substantially in the middle of the box and out of Vengagement with both sides thereof, a cutting cycle is initiated and consummatedvby the movement of lever 95. Cam 93r being rotated, the lever 95 is oscillated so as to cause the cutterv on one `side of the cutter head to piercerthe side of the box by movement of the cutter head in one direction, followed by retraction of `the cutterfrom the side just cut and cutting of the opposite' side, followed by a return to the normal mid- 150 lso position. It is worthy of note in connection with this cutting operation that a slight clearance :is Iprovided between the parallel complementary .shearingedges so that the box may be shifted -slightly laterally as the cutter works on one side walland then upon the other side wall. This is of advantage infacilitating insertion and removal of the boxes, in securing a clean smooth out, and in saving the box from strains during the cutting operation. These advantages would be lminimized if it were attempted to cut both sides of the box simultaneously.

It will be Vunderstood that the trimming or cuttingoperation in the preferred form provides a box as shown in Fig. 13 in which the composite sidewalls have their upper surfaces cut in exact registration with a horizontal plane parallel with .thebottom 11 of. the box, while the upper part jof the inner surface of the end wall is extended from the outer surface of one side wall to the outer surface of the other side wall across the respective side walls. Completion of the side trimming, and return of the cutter head to the neutralmid-position in its guide, finds the cutter head subjected vto elevating pull through downward movement of link 86 by the action ofthe cam 93. This also iinds vplunger 97 being retractedand lowered throughA the action of the same cam.

AWhile it is usually true that the cutter assembly has a relatively loose fit, at least in one dimension of the box, it may be a little snug longitudinally of the box so that the box may tend to rise with the cutter assembly following the upward movement of the cross-head. For that contingency the stripper 78 mounted on shaft80 is provided, and normally such downward movement by spring 99 as to exert a stripping action eective againstthe bottom of the box. This is suiiioient to. disengage box and cutter, but it must be withdrawn to permit lateral ejection of the box.. The retraction of stripper 98 is by means of atripping lever 119 pivoted upon the stud 109, rigidly carried on the cutter head guide 83 and oneend of which engages the shaft in a drivingrelation such as a yoke and pin connection (not shown), and the other end of which is arranged to abut the rigid stop or abutment 129 mounted on the stationaryl vertical guide 81. The time cycle is so arranged that as the cutter head guide rises toward the top of its movement and the stripper has been ejected long enough to force the box from the cutter so as to `rest freely upon the plunger support 97 when the stripper is smartly retracted when lever 119 engages stop 129.

Thereupon station B ejector 120 is brought forwardsmartly to eject the box from the second or side trimming stage, into the third or end trimming stage of station C. Obviously at this time the movable guide `or gauge 104 has been retractedto permit the egress of the partially trimmed box from stage B, but is immediately returnedto its guarding position to receive and stop the pressed or untrimmed box moving from stage A.

As the box is kicked forward into stage or station C to abut the solid end abutment 123, the movable guard 154 will be disposed soV as to prevent the box lfrom undesired bouncing or lateral movement and the box will sit upon the upwardly moving `support 136. Through opposite movement of the vertical shaft 142 in response to movement of cam 135, the box support 136 is used while the box is engaged by the several guides 151 and led to proper vertical position relative to the corner blocks 150 and stationary complementary shearing edges 146.* At thistiineobviously the cutter assemblycomprisedof i the end trimming bladesv 152, mountedA -onf the-horizon'- tally slidable cutter head 126; are centrally di-sposedso as to provide clearance enough to permit the ends of the box to extend above 'the' anvil edge .portions-146.l `It should 'be-observed at this moment that a-downwardly'spring pressed plunger 186, mounted on the shaft-'187, and pressed downwardly by the spring 188, Yis provided in the fixed cutter head guide 125 andso ar'- ranged as to hold the boxsteady -andsubstantially free from endwise movement,v in apositioii to force the box downwardly out of the cutting areas when the trimming of the ends has been lcompleted and the 'gearedvtable support lfstarts to retract. It wi-ll`be understood-thatl a completecycle of end trimming of thefbox through appropriate movements of thebell-cranl 128 comprises a movement from mid-'position in lone direction to vcause one movable cutter -152 to -t'riin one end of thebox, and the completion of the trimming cycle comprises withdrawalV ofthe'cutter from the end which has beentrimined while the other cutter trims the other end of -the'bo-x and then both return tothe normal mid-position.

Subsequent to the completion of the trimming of the` ends and the downwardinovement vof the box upon the gearI actuated supporting table 136 the -movable guard 154 is elevated out of the -path of exit of the completely ltrimmed box;r and :immediately thereafter plunger` 163 Vis caused'ft move transversely `of thestation Cto ejeetthe box laterally of the'station.` The plunger ejector 163 is immediately retracted-and the guard 154 is dropped -downwardly so that the proper' entry of the succeeding box into the station orstage C may be permitted. 1"

If desired 'suitable air jets or-'blowers 159 may be provided to blow waste scraps from-the inachine, as shown in Figs. 1 and 5. v

It will be observed that with the' machine 'described and-disclosed in the drawings, there'is providedv an automatic device arranged to' `take a series of unitary but unpressed boxes, to distribute them automatically sol thatv alternate boxesfare delivered to right andleft handbate teries of units of a plurality bf stations, -in vlthe disclosure a left `and right hand station, although obviously 'capableV of further amplificati'onf-"in numbers. It rwill be observed further fthatia box placed upon Athe yconveyor 1'7 is automaticaliy pressed, and the ends and sides trimmed -as 'de-'- sired, without the intervention of? the hum-an hand, and -is delivered-as a pressed and 'trimmed box inY condition to Vbe wrappedV asdesireda# It will be clear stages inthe machine can-'be altered or `varied as desired without departing'irom the spirit of the invention; Thus the' pressing'stage' may` be eliminated from'this'machinefand the second and third trimming stages may be comi bined into one if desired. If de`sire` d,"tl iis machine or parts thereof may comprise intermediate machine stages in a complete box'forming machine which begins with'scoring and folding and ends With a complete Awrapped box. Obviously many changes and alterations fand modications may be made in this invention without departing from vthe spiritf'and scopeA thereof. Thus the invention may be used-` to cutthrough a single wal-l instead of through each of' substantially parallel .spacedwalls Such modifications lare to be construed as `withinthe4 scope' of the invention and the following claims unless thelatter are otherwise specicallyflimitedzf? Weclaim: 1"

1. A, box trimming-machine'comprising knife means for cutting transversely across awa'llof a box from the inside to the outside thereof.

2. A box trimming machinecomprising means for supporting a box, and knife means for trimming the edge of a wall of the box* with a cut passing from the inside to the outside thereof.`

3. A box trimming machine comprising means for supporting a box, a horizontally reciprocatable cutter head, a cutter assemblyon the cutter head, means for moving the cutter assembly vertically of the box to enter within the box, and means for reciprocating the cutter-to alternately trim opposite walls of the box. i

4. A box trimming machinecomprising means for pressing a unitary box, means for-trimming the side walls to a level lower than the ends, an means for trimming the end walls.

5. A box trimming machine comprising a Side trimming and an end Vtrimming station, means in the side trimming station for elevating the box, a side trimming cutter assembly, means for moving the assembly vertically to enter within the box', means for reciprocating the cutter assembly to trimA the sides, saidrst and second mentioned means arranged to function to lower the box while elevating the cutter, and means for ejecting the box from the side trimming stage into the end trimming stage. l

`6.',In a box trimming machine for trimming unitary boxes having inner and outer nested elements, an anvil, a cutter movable relative to the anvil, the cutter having `horizontal and vertical edges, and means for supporting the side wall of a box between the anvil and cutter' to form an upper edge surface of the side wall of the box ofthe upper registering surfaces of the nested elements.

7. In a box trimming machine, means for` supporting a box, an anvil portion, a cutter portion, means for positioning a box wall between the anvil and cutter portions, and means for securing relative movements of the anvil and cutter portions to transversely cut the wall of the box from the inside to the outside thereof. l Y

8. In a box trimming machine, a reciprocating cutter having fore and aft blades, a box support, a pair of spaced complementary shearing elements arranged respectively to be laterally engaged by a box wall during the movement of a blade toward the respective elements, and means for-reciproeating the cutter sc as alternately to engage opposite walls of a box. j

9. In a box trimming machine, means for pressying thewalls of a box, means for ejecting the box from the pressing means, means fortrimming the side walls of a box, means for ejecting the box from the side trimming means, means for trimming the ends of a box, and means for ejecting the box from the end trimming means, means for synchronously actuating the plurality of ejecting means.

10. In a box trimming machine, a vertically movable support, a vertically movable cutter guide,

a transversely movable cutter slidable in the cutter guide, blades on the cutter, means for moving the cutter guide downwardly while the box support is raised and arranged to permit the bla-desto be disposed within a box, fixed cooperatingblades arranged to reinforce a box, and means for imparting three successive reciprocations to the movable cutter, whereby to serially Vcut through opposite side walls of a box and to return to a neutral mid-position relative to said box.` f

11. In a b ox trimming machine, 'ahorizontal guide, a cutter head slidably mounted in the guide,

blades on opposite ends of the cutter head,xed complementary lshearing blades, means for dis` posing a box in suchV relation to the complementary blades as to have the box ends extend vertically between the xed blades and the respective blades-A on said cutter, and means for reciprocatingv the cutter head.

12. In a box trimming machine, a vertically movable support, a vertically movable cutter guide, a transversely movable cutter slidable in the cutter guide, blades on the cutter, means for moving the cutter guide downwardlyW While the box support is raised and arranged to permit the blades to be disposed within a box, fixed cooperating blades arranged to reinforce abox, means for imparting three successive reciprocations tothe movable cutter, whereby Vtoserially cut through opposite side walls of a'box and to return to a neutralmid-position relative to. said box, and automatic means for ejecting the box pursuant to the reciprocations of the cutter. 13. In a box trimmingmachine, a horizontal guide, a cutter head slidably mounted inthe guide, blades on opposite ends of the cutter head, xed complementary shearing blades, `means vfor disposing a box in such relation to the complementary, bladesas to have the box ends extend vertically between the fixed` blades and there.- spective blades on said cutter, means for reciprocating the cutter head, and automatic means for ejecting the lbox pursuant to the reciprocations ofthe cutter head. .g 14. In a boxtrimming -machine,'relatively movable cutting meansv for transversely cutting througntne side, Walls of a bo'x 'in substantial 110 parallelism with the bottom of the box and perpendicularly in alignment withv the inner surface i of the end wall of aA box to forma recessed Wall to receive a lid, and means forautomatically relatively moving said means. 15. In a box trimming'machine, relatively movable cutting means,` for transversely cutting through the side walls of a box in substantial p'arallelism with the bottom of the box and perpendicularly in alignment with the inner-surface of the end wallof a box,-means for automatically relatively moving s said means, and means for automatically feeding al box to` the relatively movable cutting means. i f. I

16. In a box'trimlning machine, relatively movable cutting jineansA for transversely cutting through the side walls of a boxinsubstantial'parallelism with the bottom of the box and perpendicularly in alignment With the 'inner surface of the end wall of a box, means for automatically relatively moving said means, means for automatically feeding a box to the relatively movable cutting means, and means for removing `the' box after such relative movement.

'17. In a box trimming machine in combination, a supporta cutter head, means for securing guided relative vertical Vmovement of the sup,- port and the cutter head' .so as to dispose the cutter head Within the walls of a box mounted on the support, a pair of spaced vertical blades mounted on said cutter head and so spaced as -to fit substantially within the walls oi?l thebox, a horizontal blade disposed between the vertical blades, means for horizontally reciprocating said cutter head sor that the vertical and horizontal blades; cut outwardly through a vertical wall of said box,l and anvil means disposed outwardly of said box and relative to which said horizontal reciprocation is made.` GEORGE H. SNYDER.

f ALLEN G.'SYNDER.' 

